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Author Archive | Gilles Barbier

A Selection Of My Best Travel Pictures

Fishermen on Inle Lake, Myanmar

Travel Photography is as diverse as Travel Experiences can be, and this very diversity is probably its main specificity. You actually have to cover almost all possible fields of Photography: Portraits / People; Landscapes; Architecture; Wild Life; and maybe Sport in some countries.  Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Northern Scotland

A Great Road Trip Along The North Coast 500!

Oban Highland Games – Argyllshire Gathering, Scotland

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

We traveled two weeks in the middle of August 2019 and covered the “North Coast 500”: this road follows the northernmost coast of Scotland, starting from Inverness in the East and reaching Fort William in the West, including (or not) the Isle of Skye, then back to Inverness. It spreads over a distance of 500 miles, hence the name NC500, and covers some of the more remote and beautiful parts of Scotland. Continue Reading →

Grand Escapades’ Budget Guide To Northern Scotland

Amar River Viewpoint, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Neither Expensive Nor Cheap

Type Of Travel

Traveling to Northern Scotland means being on a Road Trip. Do not be mistaken nonetheless, this is not an Odyssey that you plan as you drive, following your inspiration, at least not in the summer (July & August): you should book accommodation at least 1 month in advance, and ideally between 3 and 6 months, especially if you have clear expectations on accommodation. The far north of Scotland (North Coast 500) comparatively sees few visitors (far fewer than lower Scotland), but also offers less options while on the road. Keep that in mind when planning your trip! Continue Reading →

Northern Scotland: A Selection Of 50 Pictures

Dornoch Firth, Scotland

Northern Scotland is definitely one of the very scenic areas in Europe, offering majestic sceneries & ever-changing landscapes, especially along the NC 500 and the Northwest of the country.

Driving along those wee, windy roads, soaking in the windswept landscape, is probably one of the most spectacular road-trips I ever took.

Taking pictures there is about chasing the light, and this very light is what will make it so special… Or so dull!

If we had a few really beautiful days, we also were rained in for 3 long days and else experience 4 seasons in a day…

But this is exactly when the landscape turns majestic, with a unique mix of dark skies and sporadic sunlight on the horizon. Truly magic!
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Grand Escapades’ Travel Guide To Bali

Rice Terraces near Sidemen

Bali – The Perfect Travel Destination With A Baby!

Itinerary And Time Of The Visit

We spent two weeks in Bali in the first half of April 2019. The first week, we rented a very comfortable villa in Seminyak, and discovered the more popular, more touristy south of Bali: Seminyak of course, Pura Tanah Lot & Ganggu, Pura Luhur Ulu Watu and the Breaks of Ulu Watu, but also Pura Tirta Empul & Pura Gunung Kawi north of Ubud (we skipped Ubud altogether).

Then we took a speedboat to Gili Air where we stayed 2 days, went to Amed 3 days to scuba dive on the USS Liberty Shipwreck and to discover Pura Penataran Agung Lempuyang & Taman Tirta Gangga, and last but not least spent 2 days in Sidemen in the middle of the Rice Terraces. Continue Reading →

Glimpses of Bali: A Selection of 40 Pictures

Popular Swing on the Beach at Sunset in Gili Air

Bali is a popular destination, deservedly! Stunning beaches, evergreen rice terraces, high volcanoes, spiritual and nonesuch temples, colorful markets, overloaded motorbikes, … This on an island incredibly easy to travel, catering for all budget, and offering pleasant experiences for high-end honey-mooners and hardcore backpackers, first-time Asia tourists and experienced travelers, beach-bums and culture-avid discoverers alike. Continue Reading →

A Budget Guide To Sicily

Spiaggia de Cefalé or Beach of Cefalú

Type Of Travel

Sicily was our first travel destination with our newly born baby (at the time of travel, Jules was just 3.5 months), so we went on the safe side: direct flight, car rental from a reputable company right in the airport, and hotels or guesthouses where we would be sure to have all we need. That definitely means extra-costs! And yes, we definitely enjoyed Sicilian cuisine, went to some really pleasant restaurants and sampled some nice Sicilian wine… Continue Reading →